A Senate Republican on Tuesday proposed creating a tax exemption for generators installed at nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.
The proposal (SB 1246), filed by Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, is similar to a measure (HB 803) filed last month by Rep. Rick Roth, R-Loxahatchee. The bills, which will be considered during the 2018 legislative session, come as nursing homes and assisted-living facilities look at carrying out generator requirements pushed by Gov. Rick Scott.
Both bills would create a sales-tax exemption for emergency-electrical equipment at nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, with the exemption capped at $30,000. Scott's administration moved forward with the regulations after eight residents of a sweltering Broward County nursing home died Sept. 13, three days after Hurricane Irma knocked out the facility's air-conditioning system.
Nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, however, have repeatedly raised concerns about the costs of installing generators and adding fuel supplies to meet the requirements.